Psychedelics in The Dominican Republic: Legal or Illegal?
The Dominican Republic effectively criminalizes all non-prescription drugs except for tobacco and alcohol. Psychedelics of all types, such as magic mushrooms and LSD, are totally illegal.
Despite its relaxed atmosphere and amenable nature, The Dominican Republic is not a country with a laid-back attitude toward drugs.
Like many nations in the Mesoamerica and Caribbean region, the Dominican Republic has faced its fair share of problems with drug trafficking, and — much to the surprise of tourists — there’s quite a bit of stigma with regard to cannabis.
We don’t want any psychonaut running into unpleasant surprises. That’s why, In this article, we’ll take a look at the current drug policy in the Dominican Republic and offer straightforward answers.
Summary of Drug Laws in The Dominican Republic
- Law #50-88 of The Dominican Republic criminalizes all drugs except for tobacco and alcohol, which means that cannabis and all major psychedelics (and their analogs) are illegal.
- Illegal drugs in The Dominican Republic are placed on a certain tier (category I to V) depending on the drug’s abuse potential, its medicinal potential, and the absence or presence of accepted conditions for its use under medical supervision.
- Psychedelics like ibogaine, peyote, mescaline, DMT, and psilocybin, as well as cannabis and its derivatives, are all listed under Schedule I, which means that, in The Dominican Republic, they have no recognized medical use and are considered to have a high potential for abuse.
- The precursors to these substances are also considered illegal. As such, magic mushroom spores are illegal.
- As per Decree No. 288-96, Simple possession of an illegal drug is punishable by up to 6 months to two years of prison, as well as a fine. More serious crimes are punished with more severity. For instance, for drug trafficking, it would be 3 to 10 years of prison and an even bigger fine.
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal In The Dominican Republic?
No. Magic mushrooms are not legal in the Dominican Republic.
“Magic mushrooms” is a colloquial name referring to the wide variety of mushrooms that contain the psychedelic pro-drug known as psilocybin. Once ingested, psilocybin is turned into psilocin, the compound which causes the dissociative symptoms.
And not only are magic mushrooms illegal in The Dominican Republic, but they are listed under the most dangerous drug tier.
Is LSD Legal In The Dominican Republic?
No. LSD is illegal in The Dominican Republic.
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), like magic mushrooms, is illegal and is also placed in Category I, meaning it has no medicinal potential and a high potential for abuse.
LSD is a lot more potent than magic mushrooms. Instead of grams, doses are measured in micrograms.
No other lysergamide compounds are explicitly mentioned on the list of restricted substances — however, it’s believed that other compounds will be deemed equivalent if facing charges. It’s wise to avoid all forms of psychedelic lysergamides if visiting the Dominican Republic.
Is DMT Legal in The Dominican Republic?
No. DMT is not legal in The Dominican Republic.
Like magic mushrooms and LSD, DMT (dimethyltryptamine) is a Category I drug. Also, unlike other countries like Peru and Mexico, there isn’t a cottage industry in The Dominican Republic around ayahuasca tourism, so you won’t be able to access it in that way.
Is MDMA Legal In The Dominican Republic?
No. MDMA is not legal in The Dominican Republic.
MDMA is an amphetamine compound known for eliciting feelings of ecstasy, empathy, loss of hunger, and slightly psychedelic effects.
The penalties are similar to those for LSD and magic mushrooms — all of these substances are grouped together for the purposes of determining charges.
Is Cannabis Legal In The Dominican Republic?
Not at all. Cannabis is fully illegal in The Dominican Republic, as are all of its derivatives.
As of yet, there is no legislation allowing for the use of medicinal cannabis or the allowance of a personal use dose. In fact, The Dominican Republic is a country that displays a high level of stigma toward cannabis and cannabis users.
For instance, a recent 2022 bill that would ban clothing and music that promotes cannabis was recently debated in Congress. This blatant attempt to trample on freedom of expression should serve as a clear reminder of the level of cannabis stigma in The Dominican Republic.
Key Takeaways: Psychedelics in The Dominican Republic
Psychedelic compounds are illegal in the Dominican Republic, as are all non-prescription drugs except for alcohol and tobacco.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much hope for change on the horizon. The Dominican Republic is a country that displays a highly conservative attitude when it comes to drugs, and that’s not something that’s going to change anytime soon.
In fact, due to it being the most important transshipment hub for cocaine in the Caribbean, prohibitionist attitudes toward drugs in the Dominican Republic are likely to become even stronger.
We do not recommend anyone to engage with illegal drugs while in the Dominican Republic, as the consequences could be quite severe.
